China mission of French President Macron and EU Commission President von der Leyen. Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was prepared to call Ukrainian President Zelenskyy when he spoke to the two European heads of state, while Mamosca reiterated that there was no prospect of a peaceful solution for the time being.
The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his European counterparts, French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has begun in the Great Hall of the People, according to the state network CCTV. Earlier, Xi held bilateral talks with both Macron and von der Leyen.
The French President told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to “count on him” to “bring Russia back to sanity” during the initial stages of bilateral candor with the media. Macron and the Chinese leader have called for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine “as soon as possible”. And they said they were against the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
In the Ukraine crisis, China “insists on promoting peace talks and a political solution”, in which it expresses its willingness to work with France to urge the international community to “maintain rational moderation and avoid measures” that could worsen the crisis or “pull it out of control”. According to Xi Jinping, “We must strictly respect international humanitarian law, refrain from attacks on civilians and civilian structures, and protect women, children and other victims of conflict.”
Xi, in particular, urged to “seriously implement the solemn pledge not to use nuclear weapons and engage in nuclear warfare.” In addition, they oppose “the use of biological and chemical weapons under all circumstances,” the Chinese president added at a press briefing with his counterpart Emmanuel Macron, and “against armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other civilian nuclear facilities.” Xi also spoke of cooperation “to address the spillover effects of the Ukrainian crisis in the areas of food, energy, finance, transport and other areas” to “reduce the negative impact of the Ukrainian crisis on the world, especially on developing countries.” “.
For his part, the French president urged his Chinese counterpart not to supply anything to Russia that can be used in its war against Ukraine, reported a French diplomatic source who attended the meeting between the two presidents. Arms shipments from China to Russia, Ursula von der Leyen warned, would “significantly affect” relations between Brussels and Beijing because “supporting an attacker would violate international law.” China, he added, has a responsibility to use its influence against Russia and the EU is “counting” on it to do so.
Moreover, during the meetings they had in Beijing, Chinese President Xi told French President Macron that he was ready to call Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the right moment. And European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that she encouraged President Xi Jinping to approach President Zelenskyy. “It was interesting to hear – said the EU Commission’s number one – that President Xi has reiterated his willingness to speak (with him) when the times and conditions are most appropriate.”
Moscow’s reaction
“China has a very effective and impressive mediation potential, and Beijing’s recent diplomatic successes have impressively demonstrated this. But the situation with Ukraine is still difficultfor now, there are no prospects of a peaceful solution,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent comments that Beijing’s efforts could help resolve the Ukraine crisis peacefully.
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